About 12,000 members of UFCW Locals 135, 324, 770, 1167 and 1428 who work at Stater Bros. Markets stores across Southern California voted to ratify a new contract on August 15. This contract, which was reached after months of negotiations and active participation from thousands of Stater Bros. members, marks a major milestone for the Grocery Workers Rising campaign, a coordinated effort among the locals to improve standards across the retail food industry.
Key provisions of the three-year contract include:
• Substantial wage increases.
• A new supplemental pension plan to help workers in their retirement.
• Increased health care benefit contributions and quicker health care eligibility requirements for new hires.
• Staffing language that includes the union in evaluating reasonable staffing levels that address efficient operation of the store, the health and safety of employees, and the quality of customer service.
• Safety language that empowers workers to keep their workplace safe from hazards.
• Protections of our bargaining unit to protect against subcontracting of union work.
“The journey to contract ratification was different this year,” said the five locals in a joint statement. “Never before have our members had to fight this hard to get what they deserved. Never before has the company disrespected our members, intimidated them, bullied them and retaliated against them for their union support.”
“However, they persevered and saw a record turnout of grocery workers, customers, and community members, all fighting for the same thing – better stores, better lives, better communities. Our members fought to ensure their jobs would be sufficient to feed their own families and afford health benefits and a dignified retirement at the end of a long career. They fought for safety measures so they wouldn’t be afraid of going to work.”
“Their fight took to the streets where they organized numerous rallies, marches and boycotts that showed their power. They stood up and demonstrated their unity by signing petitions and wearing buttons. These actions and their courage to stand up to their employer built the strength needed to reach this agreement. Only by rising up together and pushing back on Stater Bros.’ illegal behavior were our members able to make a change in their workplaces that will benefit both all grocery workers and customers in the future.”